Jenna Cole Photography-Dallas, TX

Natalie and Jeremy were the first engagement session I’ve photographed in months, and the last I’ll do before baby comes. I have this couple to thank for sending me into my maternity leave with a bang, I loved working with them! I’ll see Natalie again in May for her bridal session, and I’ll spend June 11th of this year with both of them as it’s the day they are set to get married!

We did this session at one of my favorite locations, Deep Ellum. I’ve been there several times over the course of my one year career (it’s Jenna Cole’s one year anniversary this month!) and I always find new spots to explore and use when I visit.

This engagement session resulted in some of my favorite images ever. All of the elements seemed to come together perfectly, a darling couple, gorgeous light, and a few expected and unexpected visitors to boot!

Meet Heather and Kyle, aren’t they sickeningly sweet?

This SOOC to Fine Art conversion is one of my favorites ever. I’m constantly working to improve my editing skills, reading up on new tricks and tools to use and I was pleasantly surprised to see the difference between the before and after of this image. My ultimate goal? To capture the best image right in camera, time in and time out. But that doesn’t mean I don’t believe in the magic of Photoshop as demonstrated below!

SOOC:

Fine Art:

These first shots were done in the courtyard of Heather’s apartment complex in Dallas. I always enjoy working in new locations and realizing, once again, that beautiful photos can be created almost anywhere, as long as the light is right!

Color or….

Black and White?

The reason we started at Heather’s apartment complex finally made her appearance. Isn’t she sweet?

Soon this won’t be Heather’s dog, this will be Heather and Kyle’s dog. Both of them. Because they’ll be married!

After spending some time around Heather’s apartment we moved to my all-time favorite shooting location, White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas. Remember Daci and Yoni’s engagement session at White Rock way back when? Heather and Kyle’s session made me realize that there isn’t just one peacock wandering around this neighborhood. That day we spotted three grazing in the same yard!

This location can be a hit or miss, as flooding and puddles can be a problem but I’m lucky to be blessed with couples willing to trust my vision and tiptoe through the puddles to find the perfect spot.

The yellow flowers all over the ground matched Heather’s sweater perfectly!

I wish I could say I’m going to be shooting their wedding as well (who wouldn’t want more face time with this couple?). Unfortunately for me they are getting married in Arkansas and had already signed a contact with a local photographer to that area. Lucky guy!

That Shot twice over. I love them both equally, especially when grouped together like this.

So far this shoot has featured a super sweet canine, a trio of peacocks, and now… a horse! Perfectly appropriate for this couple in particular because they met on a dude ranch. She was a waitress in the diner and he was a ranch hand.

I don’t do many sepia conversions but I couldn’t resist with this couple and the horse. So fitting for this particular couple.

Getting that horse to stick his head through the fence and hold still (well, as still as a horse will be) for this kissing shot was surprisingly easy!

These two were about done by this point, but I begged them to head out to the docks at White Rock Lake for some sunset shots by the water.

I took the shot above with the light quickly fading and then the lovebirds and I switched places and I did the shot below. I’ve got steady hands, if I do say so myself.

Heather and Kyle, I look forward to seeing your wedding photos on Facebook in the coming months (yes I admit to Facebook stalking my clients every so often!)

Best,

Jenna

P.S.-Thanks to Ami of Elizabeth Anne Designs for featuring Heather and Kyle’s engagement session on her fabulous blog last week!

Sandra and Andrew made my day (week even!) when they contacted me about the possibility of a double engagement session, which meant twice the amount of time spent with an awesome couple, and to make it even more exciting, they wanted to end their session at the Texas State Fair, a venue I was really hoping to shoot at this year. Thanks to Sandra and Andrew I got my wish!

We started out at The Shops at Legacy in Plano and I think Andrew was feeling a bit camera shy.

After a little bit of encouragement from me (and a new angle so I could see his face better) we were on our way to getting beautiful portraits of not just lovely Sandra, but Andrew as well!

There was some kind of festival happening just behind them in this shot, which helped keep the mood light and fun.

THAT SHOT!

This was the kind of spot where I just couldn’t stop taking the photos. The light was wonderful and these two really settled into some great poses. The best interaction between subjects is always client led.

We were worried about spending too much time at the Shops and missing all of the light at the Fair so we hopped in the car and drove down to downtown Dallas. We were all pretty hungry by the time we got there so we indulged in a “Corny Dog”. I haven’t indulged in a corn dog in a very long time and so I was practically drooling in between takes. Sandra and Andrew were nice enough to give me a break and let me munch on one of own for a few minutes as well.

The swan, the swan! I love that swan behind them almost as much as I love the look on Sandra’s face and that pretty backlight.

Super cheesy but I couldn’t resist.

These two have known of each other since elementary school, but they didn’t spend much time together until they both worked on the high school newspaper together. She was the editor in chief and he was the slacker who only signed up for the class to spend more time with this then-girlfriend. Last Halloween they ran into each other at a party and the connection was made. When I asked them what really describes them as a couple one of the phrases they used was “friends-till-the-end”. These two know they can count on each other for anything.

I saw these pumpkins and just couldn’t resist. What is it with photographers and directing clients to hold items up in front of their faces?

I tried to use a few different processing techniques with the next three photos to try to give the shots a different “look” for the location. Sometimes I do processing that’s a little bit different than my usual style but clients always get the Basic Edit as well, just in case they don’t prefer what I came up with!

Although this isn’t my favorite from the entire session, it is my favorite from the time spent at the Fair. By the way, shooting people on a moving carousel when you are out on the pavement is really hard! Those rides move so fast, I haven’t had that much fun trying to get a shot in a long time.

As the light flitted away the rides lit up. I didn’t have a flash with me so I placed these two in the most well-lit spot I could find, held my breath, and hoped I could hold my camera steady enough for some clear shots.  I think the resulting colors and lights in the background are beautiful!

I’m so sad to say I won’t be shooting their wedding, occurring in Piedras Negras, Coahuila Mexico, Sandra’s birthplace. Why not? Because they are getting married on my baby’s due date! We’re both going to have more than enough to celebrate that week and I wish them the best in the rest of their planning and married life.

Sandra and Andrew,

I LOVED brainstorming this shoot with you, and watching everything come to life the day of. Many thanks for your creativity and especially your willingness to spend a little money to get some fun shots at the Fair (I still can’t believe how much everything costs at that thing!). I was so sad to see the sun go down that evening. I had a great time with you and I wish you all the love and happiness you deserve together.

Best,

Jenna